Per Mertesacker is entrusted with the job of collecting fines from Arsenal players in breach of club discipline but the German may find himself going cap in hand to manager Arsene Wenger for his place in the team.

West Ham’s teenage defender Danny Potts looks likely to keep his place in Sam Allardyce’s team for their trip to Sunderland tomorrow.

The 18-year-old was recalled from a loan spell at Colchester last weekend after Joey O’Brien picked up a hamstring injury which has not improved sufficiently for the Republic of Ireland international to return at the Stadium of Light.

Potts was in the West Ham team that drew 2-2 with Manchester United in the FA Cup and Allardyce said: “It wasn’t easy for him to come back from Colchester and go straight in against United but I thought he was excellent.”

With West Ham’s other left-back, George McCartney, out of action long term with a knee ligament injury, Allardyce’s one remaining priority during this transfer window remains a left-back.

He said: “We have made an enquiry about Martin Olsson at Blackburn but it hasn’t gone any further than that.” Marouane Chamakh, on loan from Arsenal, is expected to be on the bench tomorrow. Meanwhile, co-chairman David Gold appears to be on the mend. The 76-year-old was admitted to hospital on Tuesday with pneumonia but tweeted today: “I’m over the worst.”